Gate drops on Motocross America

Visitors are already touring Motocross America, the most contemporary, dynamic and technological exhibit ever developed by the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. From the "scrambles" precedents of motocross in the 1920s to the high-tech, high-profile entertainment of today's Supercross scene, Motocross America tells the story of one of the most popular forms of motorsports in the world.

The first bike a visitor to the exhibit sees is a 1954 Velocette 500 Scrambler, which looks a lot like the single-cylinder road bikes of the era, with a few changes to the fenders and tank and fitted with knobby tires—and that's precisely what it was. In those days, when "scrambles" was evolving into "motocross," motorcycles were not so specialized.

By the end of the exhibit, the visitor has seen the 2004 Honda CRF450R that Ricky Carmichael rode to his perfect season in the 2004 AMA Motocross Championship, winning every moto of every round. The Velocette and the Honda may both be four-strokes only 50cc apart in size, but the differences in technology, power, weight, performance and specialization put them worlds apart.

That transition over time is dramatized in one of the most eye-catching elements of Motocross America. As visitors pass from the first part of the exhibit to the other side of the exhibition hall, the leap from the past to the present is depicted by four motocross bikes suspended in mid-air, from a 1963 Parilla taking off on one side, to Jeremy McGrath's 1996 championship-winning Honda exploding into the Supercross era on the other side.

Motocross America is a lot more than bikes, however. One of the most exciting elements of the exhibit is the X Dome. Inside the dome, video and music convey the action, creativity, style and color of the "extreme sport" spinoffs from motocross. The stunts of freestyle motocrossers in made-for-television events such as the Gravity Games and the X Games have introduced thousands of new fans to the sport.

Another element of the exhibit is the tech zone. Today's motocross machines are marvels of technology, and displays let you see the inner workings of vintage and modern engines, as well as the sophisticated suspension systems that allow today's riders to fly high and ride fast.

It all adds up to the most dynamic exhibit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has ever produced. Come see it for yourself. And meanwhile, you can take a virtual tour of the exhibit.

The leap through time

The finished project provides a visual leap from the past to the present in the middle of the museum's atrium.	Tom Michalski (white shirt) and Richard Becker, both with Phoenix Construction Services, work off a scaffolding to hang the bikes.
Scenes from the exhibit
The exhibit logo at the entrance to the Museum.	The first half of the exhibit tells the story of how motocross started.
A replica of the Los Angeles Coliseum, scene of great Supercross battles, is part of the exhibit.	Gear worn by the stars is also featured, as well as bikes.
Chad Reed's Yamaha represents the latest evolution of motocross machinery.	In the tech zone, visitors can see the internal workings of shocks, engines and other components.

© 2005, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum